Four Years Behind the Badge: A Volunteer’s Story at the La Crescenta Sheriff’s Department

by Garnik Ghazaryan

Several years ago, I spent four formative years volunteering with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at the La Crescenta Valley station. Those years quietly shaped my sense of responsibility, service, and connection to the community, which I still carry with me today.

When I first walked into the La Crescenta Sheriff’s Department as a volunteer, I didn’t wear a badge, but I felt its weight. The station was a close-knit community, and from the very beginning, I understood that trust, visibility, and consistency mattered just as much as authority. Volunteering wasn’t about recognition; it was about showing up, learning, and serving.

One of my core responsibilities was participating in patrols alongside deputies. Riding through the neighborhoods of La Crescenta, Montrose, and La Canada Flintridge gave me a firsthand view of what community safety truly looks like on the ground. I learned that preventive law enforcement is about being present, observant, and approachable. Residents would wave, stop to ask questions, or simply feel reassured knowing someone was watching out for them. Those patrols taught me situational awareness, calm decision-making, and respect for the complexity of public safety work.

Another meaningful part of my service involved vacation home checks. Families trusted us to look after their homes while they were away, and we never took that trust lightly. I checked properties for signs of forced entry, vandalism, or suspicious activity, documenting details carefully and reporting anything out of the ordinary. It may have seemed routine, but it was deeply personal to protect someone’s sense of security while they were miles away. Every quiet, intact home felt like a small victory.

Perhaps the most impactful experiences came from my involvement in drug prevention programs at local high schools. Standing in front of students, I wasn’t there to lecture; I was there to connect. We talked openly about the real-life consequences of substance use, peer pressure, and decision-making. I saw how powerful honest conversation could be when young people felt heard rather than judged. Those moments planted early seeds of my later work in health education and prevention, showing me, how early intervention can change lives.

Public safety events and community outreach rounded out my experience. Whether assisting local gatherings, supporting deputies during community programs, or helping maintain order during public events, I saw how collaboration between law enforcement and civilians strengthens neighborhoods. These events reinforced the idea that safety is a shared responsibility, not something enforced from the outside, but built from within.

Over those four years, I gained far more than experience. I gained discipline, empathy, communication skills, and a deep appreciation for service. Volunteering at the La Crescenta Sheriff’s Department taught me how systems work, how people respond under pressure, and how prevention, whether in public safety or public health, can be one of the most powerful tools we have.

Looking back, those years weren’t just a chapter in my life; they were a foundation. Even without a badge, I learned what it truly means to protect and serve.